Now Open: The Pigpen in Makati Is The Answer To Your Lunchbreak Woes

It’s lunchtime in Makati’s central business district. The afternoon sun fills the space inside The Pigpen, the newest restaurant to hit the vibrant Legazpi Village dining scene. With acclaimed chef Carlos Garcia of The Black Pig at the helm, the Pigpen aims to bring innovative comfort food to busy diners in the middle of the workday.

It is a cozy restaurant and bar with an intimate feel where colleagues and friends can engage in conversation over food and drinks. The monochromatic interiors are highlighted by three wooden chandeliers that dangle from the ceiling. Textured white walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, and metal fixtures complete the minimalistic design, allowing the food to serve as the restaurant's focal point.

IMAGE Kai Huang

The fusion of European and Asian flavors on the menu goes against the grain of the typical Makati lunch eatery and it’s impossible to find a dish that isn’t appealing: tasty papadum “nachos” topped with everyone’s favorite sisig, crispy crablets and bacon bagoong, and the chef’s recommendation, grilled tamarind chicken, a hearty dish reminiscent of classic Filipino barbecue chicken served with a sweet and sour green mango and dilis salad that is the perfect accompaniment to the savory skewers.

IMAGE Kai Huang

PigPen Burger

IMAGE Kai Huang

Chicken barbecue

Chef Garcia and his team set out to open a restaurant serving straightforward comfort-style food we know and love, and have succeeded in elevating it to a new level. Take the braised pork shoulder, the succulent cut of meat, covered with a tangy tomato relish of cherry tomatoes, coriander, basil, and garlic, which transforms the otherwise simple to the spectacular.

IMAGE Kai Huang

Braised pork shoulder

An offshoot of the trendy Alabang hotspot The Black Pig, which opened to stellar reviews in 2013 for its novel take on European-inspired dishes, the first freestanding Pigpen restaurant was opened in Nuvali in 2015. The idea for the new concept was to serve everyday food in Garcia’s signature style, with everything prepared in-house, from the bread to the ice cream, in a more accessible and affordable format.

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IMAGE Kai Huang

Grilled Tamarind Barbecue

IMAGE Kai Huang

Braised Pork shoulder

At its second brick and mortar location in Legazpi Village, the restaurant reinvents itself once again and attempts to revamp its own dining experience by offering a selection of signature hand-crafted cocktails that pair with every dish. Cocktails have been conceptualized and crafted by Jericson Co of the popular speakeasy bar, The Curator, while craft beers on tap and a selection of artisan wines are also available.

For those in search of the more familiar, the restaurant also offers dishes like the Pigpen signature cheese burger with all the classic fixings and simple pasta dishes such as spaghetti Bolognese and mac and cheese that are sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. To cap off the meal on a sweet note, the black rice pudding with mango and saba is completely original and simply delicious. It’s so good, you may need to order two.